Wichita eagle., 1887-07-05
A SWAMP MYSTERY.

The summer of the year 1862 was par
ticularly hot on the coast of North Caro-
lima. 1t even did something to counterfeit
the more destructive heat Of the civil
war.
Gen. Burnside had captured a long
reach of the seaboard and had established
his headquarters at Newbern. No battles
followed very soon, nor any storms to
speak Of, but the army and the weather
were fast getting into a high state Of
preparation for either kind of event.
There were Union troops at Fort Macon
and Morehead city, not many miles up
the coast from Newbern, and much pay
was due them.
The money came down from the north
in July, and couple Of paymasters re-
ceiyed orders to go at once and deal it out
to the men.
Before the war railway had been con-
structed from Newbern to Morehead City.
Its rails were still there, but all its rolling
stock, with the exception Of one hand car,
had gone into the interior of the state.
The viaduct was only just wide enough to
carry the rails, and much of its course
was through swamp whose dense bushes
were now luxuriantly reaching out as if
they meant to capture the track before the
end of the season.
The quartermaster placed his one hand
car at the disposal of the paymasters. He
did so with the pleasant information that
on the previous evening the busy Confed-
crates had made a raid and had swept
away all the picketS posted along the line
of the railway. New pickets had been
posted, he told them, and their proposed
trip would be reasonably safe.
''"hat is" said he, 81 guess you're safe
from any Confeds, but if you don't get
through before dark I'd advise you to be
pretty prompt about answering any hail
The boys'n all be wide awake this time.
They won't be slow about taking care Of
themselves in the dark. Not man Of 'em
wants to go to Wilmington just now, nor
to AndersOnville either.
That warning made the paymasters
shake their heads and grow in Importance
before the hand car set out, for it was
plain enough that it would be dark be-
fore the trip could be half made. Precisely
how dark it would be or why was not as
yet imagined by anybody.
There were nine men huddled On that
hand car when it went. A sergeant and
four soldiers were its motive power, guard
and garrison. The writer Of this story
was there altogether as an adventurer.
Two paymasters, with the rank of major,
and one clerk were in charge of black
box containing over $50, 600 in greenbacks
70 be scattered among the volunteers on
the morrow.
The air grew more and more close and
sultry, and just before night a sort CT haze
1.1r. 70, 4 !,
That's it, major" said the sergeant to
one Of the paymasters. Were going to
hear from Cape Hatteras."
''Storm coming?'
''Right along. 'Twon't take it long to
come"
He was correct as to the time required
by Cape Hatteras, or whatever was man.
aging that storm. The sky rapidly grew
black as ink and darkness came with but
moderate reference to the departing sun.
Just before entering the denser thicket5
Of the swamps picket was reached and
the officer in charge repeated the warning
Of the quartermaster.
''Be ready to answer right away. 1t'u
be pitch dark, and some of the boys are
nervous after last nights work. They'll
shoot quick"
paymaster who replied:
We'll. now, captain, we didn't say but
we thought the trip would be safer by
night than by day. The men have got to
have the money!
''H0pe the rebs won't get it, then. Put
her through, sergeant, but look sharp.
The storm most got here"
He also was correct about the weather.
In ten minutes more such a storm had ar
rived as was a credit to Cape Hatteras and
the whole seacoast of North Carolina. On
rolled the hand car, its crouching passen-
gers drenched with rain, that fell in
streams rather than drops. The lightning
flashed almost necessarily and the thunder
seemed TO be rolling around all over the
swamp. Except where a streak Of light
ming cleft it, the darkness was ike solid
wall, and there was neither head light nor
lantern provided for that hand car
worst storm | ever saw remarked
the sergeant. and one of the brace of men
who were acting as motive power grunted
back at him: Its the worst kind of a
storm, but you can't see it."
1t was Just correction Of the statement
made by the sergeant: but at that moment
hoarse, deep, sepulchral voice from
among the bushes and bIackness at the
right of the track commanded:
''Halt!'
''Stop herl Quick, boys" exclaimed the
sergeant, and as the men changed instant
" from motive power into brakes, he
sprang from the car into water above his
knees and waded forward 10 answer the
hail and give the countersign.
1t was all in vain Down came double
delure of rain and thicker darkness. Then
| vividness of blue electricity danced
through the dropping bushes and great
roar of thunder followed as if in search
| of the hidden picket" Neither rain nor
| lightning nor thunder nor anxious Ques-
| tioninGs Of the sergeant discovered him.
There he was, or must have been, dead
or alive, for he had said Halt. but that
| was apparently all he had to say.
The sergeant splashed his way back TO
| the hand car, using very strong language.
and it was decided to go forward.
We're just as likely 10 be fired into,
first thing" remarked the paymaster' 5
clerk. ''and they'd hit some Of Us sure. -
Both Of the paymasters agreed with
| him. and one expressed his satisfaction
that the box containing the greenbacks
was waterproof.
That's more than I an" said one Of
the soldiers. This ere rains got through
nv roof. can feel il trickle down inside
Of me-
The hand car was not propelled rapidly
| after that, but the lightning and thunder
worked harder than ever. PERHAPS half q
mile had been gained when another voice,
on the LETT this tine and not 50 near, but
equally hoarse and pereu pto-y, shouted: